Yo guys, got to go to this year's EICMA (check out the rest of the videos on my YT channel, more coming).

One of the most interesting bikes I've been waiting all year long to see is the new Duke 790. Thought it's the Husky Nuda we were waiting for from the KTM owned Husqvarna and a much more close bike to the original SD990 than everything else with the same name.

Obviously, can't tell yet how it is, but having some mixed feelings. On the one hand, it's 80% stunning. Cool design, super slim and large amounts of gadgetry. Weight is low, power is good enough and KTM knows how to make cool engines.

On the other hand, it's 20% "WTF, what happened to the concept from 2016?!", has non-adjustable front forks (not saying they'll be bad, but I did hope for better spec parts) and well, could have squeezed some more ponies from a brand new engine.

Not quite the prototype but it does look better than I thought. The colours shown there are not too bad and look way better than the all black I had previously seen.It looks lean and light and has some nice touches. The exhaust looks bulbous and hideous but it would be the first thing to go anyway.190kg and 105hp, not fire breathing but would still be a lot of fun.Hard to tell how it would sell, price will determine a lot. I can't see any SD riders, 990 or 1290 "downgrading" to one.

The best things in life are free........The second best things are really expensive.

Wouldn't you down\up\sidegrade if you had, say, an 8-10 year old SD990\950? The jump to the 1290 or it's rivals in price is big, I reckon this one would be much milder in price. I do agree that price would determine how god it sells or don't.

Exhaust is an ugly motherF'er, but as you said, it's first to take a hike.

I was also really looking forward to this. Looks wise it is no surprise to me, as the spy shots and the test of the pre-production bike they released a couple weeks ago already basically showed the finished article. But like you say, the non adjustable forks, and preload only rear shock dissapoint. As do the brakes.I was hoping they would announce an R version at the same time, with fully adjustable suspension and brembo monoblocks, maybe a bit more power.I'm still hoping they'll bring that out, maybe next year? I'm really considering going from the 990 to this. As far as I'm concerned the 1290 is just too much for the road. Especially the lighter weight of the 790 appeals to me. 100/110ish hp is plenty for me. Ditch the stock exhaust, mirrors, pillion pegs, add a tail tidy and I think you've got a pretty decent bike.

Fun bike with shit suspension - Hmmm same as the 1290 Why do they continue to skimp on this, I hope it cost them sales so they do something about it.

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They should put out a flatrack version with 19-18" wheels and a seat you can get forward on.Or just build a new superenduro with the engine.

Well, they already released the prototype 790 Adventure bike:

I think that if thet keep it close to what we've seen, it's going to be a bitchin' enduro\rally machine. I have my hopes high since I spoke to my source at KTM and he suggested so, as it will need to replace the Enduro 690 dual sport model that's supposed to be dropped from the line.

KTM won't be thinking about current KTM riders upgrading/downgrading. It isn't about us, its about expanding their market. Its new owners they're interesting in. They want to attract buyers away from Yamaha Tracers and Triumph 765 Street Triples etc. KTM have a massive hole in their naked range. They go from a very niche 690 single to the 1290 SDR with nothing in between. The middleweight naked is a huge market and so are the emerging markets in developing economies where small and mid-weight bikes are the ones that sell. The Anglosphere and Europe are not the centre of the world anymore.

Its a mistake to think that selling bikes is only about pleasing a narrow and conservative minded existing (and thereby shrinking) customer base. If any bike maker thought like that they'd soon go the way of the old British bike industry.

I won't be buying a 790. I've got a 1290 SDR and an 1190 Adv. I'd like a 690 Enduro R as well but I'm not really interested in a 790 naked. But that's OK. KTM have already got people like me, they need the new buyers who are going to Yamaha, Triumph and MV. I hope it works out for them. I'll certainly be taking one for a test ride out of curiosity. I'm not outraged by the thought of a parallel twin. It makes sense in this sector and if its a KTM parallel twin I'd be vastly surprised if it wasn't a cracker.